Summary of Reading Task #1

According to Janet Larsen in “The Sixth Great Extinction ”(November 2004), she indicates that there have been at least five mass extinctions in the history of life. She mentions that first known extinction on earth was about half a billion years ago. Most experts believe that a change in sea level dramatically destroyed many plants and animals' habitats. Also, she describes that, at the end of the Permian period, the single largest extinction event happened, up to 96 percent of all ocean species died out as well as three-quarters of vertebrates on land disappeared. Finally, she states 85 percent of the planet's species, including all of the dinosaurs, at 65 million years ago, were eliminated. Researchers suggest that this event was most likely caused by a large meteorite striking Earth.

“The average extinction rate today is up to 10,000 times faster than the rate that has prevailed over the past 60 million years,” she suggests that, human beings are facing the "Sixth Extinction". However, she presents this extinction is the result of human activities.

In contrast, not all experts believe that human activities are responsible for the endangered species threat. Jane S. Shaw, points out in her February 2004 article published in the Backgrounder, that population growth means that people will create habitats for wildlife. She stresses that “They will create ponds, establish gardens, plant trees, and set up bird nesting-boxes.”

In a word, Larsen implies that healthy ecosystems are key to the survival of all species and people should act together to stop the progress of this newest mass extinction.